June 19 -- St Philip Minh, Priest, and Companions, Martyrs St Philip Minh and The Vietnamese Martyrs, also known as the Martyrs of Annam, Martyrs of Tonkin and Cochinchina, Martyrs of Indochina, or Andrew Dung-Lac and Companions, are saints on the General Roman Calendar who were canonized by Pope John Paul II. On June 19, 1988, thousands of overseas Vietnamese worldwide gathered at the Vatican for the Celebration of the... Continue Reading →
18 June, Friday – Strength in Vulnerability
Friday of Week 11 in Ordinary Time 2 Cor 11:18,21-30Mt 6:19-23 If I am to boast, I let me boast of my own feebleness In today’s readings, we are reminded that the Christian faith can often put us at odds with the expectations of the secular world. In the first reading, St Paul relates the many physical torments... Continue Reading →
17 June, Thursday – Our Divine Parent
Thursday of Week 11 in Ordinary Time 2 Cor 11:1-11Mt 6:7-15 “...your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” In today’s Gospel readings, Jesus continues to teach us how to pray. But while He told us what not to do in yesterday’s readings, today He has given us the very specific manual to... Continue Reading →
16 June, Wednesday – Dialogue with Divinity
Wednesday of Week 11 in Ordinary Time 2 Cor 9:6-11Mt 6:1-6,16-18 “...and your Father who sees all that is done in secret will repay you.” One of my favourite bible verses of all time is Heb 11:1, “Faith is the realization of what is hoped for and evidence of things not seen”. It speaks to the... Continue Reading →
7 June, Monday – Living as Spiritual Beings
Jun 7 -- Monday of Week 10 in Ordinary Time 2 Cor 1:1-7Mt 5:1-12 “Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven” Today’s Gospel reading is my favourite passage from the Bible. To me, it encapsulates all that Jesus has taught. It prepares us for the suffering that we will face in... Continue Reading →
27 February, Saturday — Standing Out, Standing Up
Saturday of the 1st Week of Lent Dt 26:16-19Mt 5:43-48 “You must therefore be perfect just as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Today’s gospel readings are an extension of yesterday’s, particularly in its call for us to love our enemies. Indeed, both readings are asking us to forgive our enemies and to love everyone. To illustrate what He... Continue Reading →
26 February, Friday — Loving the Unlovable
Friday of the 1st Week of Lent Ez 18:21-28Mt 5:20-26 Go first and be reconciled with your brother. I have always found today’s gospel passage to be one of the hardest biblical passages to live out. Jesus is telling us that unless we reconcile with those whom we have offended or wronged, we continue to live... Continue Reading →
25 February, Thursday — Knocking on Heaven’s Door
Thursday of the 1st Week of Lent Est 4:17Mt 7:7-12 “...the one who knocks will always have the door opened to him.” There’s a verse from an old song by the 90s rock band Guns and Roses that goes: “Mama put my guns in the ground I can’t shoot them anymore That cold black cloud is comin’ down Feels like I’m knockin’ on heaven’s... Continue Reading →
31 October, Saturday — Garments of Saintliness and Holiness
Saturday of Week 30 in Ordinary Time Phi 1:18-26Lk 14:1,7-11 “For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the man who humbles himself will be exalted” Last year on this day, my wife and I were invited to celebrate Halloween in our community in Hong Kong (where we were living then). It was a wonderful night as... Continue Reading →
30 October, Friday — Observing the Sabbath
Friday of Week 30 in Ordinary Time Phi 1:1-11Lk 14: 1-6 “Which of you here, if your son ox falls into a well, or his ox, will not pull him out on a sabbath day without hesitation?” Today’s gospel reading is especially relevant to me, especially with regards to observing the Sabbath. As an academic, I have been... Continue Reading →
